BATTERY WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD · 2.DIM OR TOO BRIGHT LIGHTS · 3.Sometimes a dead battery is just a dead battery, which has reached the end of its lifespan after a few years of use, or the headlights may have been left on accidentally all night. However, other times, a dead battery may be a sign that the alternator is not working properly. An alternator that doesn't supply enough power to the car's electronic components often causes accessories to run slowly or not to work. If you notice that the windows take longer than usual to raise or lower, or if the seat heaters feel “off”, or even if the speedometer and other instruments start to break down while the vehicle is running, you may have a problem with the alternator.
When the alternator fails, you may smell a burning smell closely related to that of an electrical fire. An overloaded alternator attempts to pump excessive current through its cables, overheating and dangerously heating them. In any case, and since the root causes may be faulty cables and switches that control the alternator or battery, you should have the battery and alternator checked immediately at the nearest Firestone Complete Auto Care.
